The ABCs of Ohio State football

Aug. 20, 2013

Written by

| Associated Press

• AA: for Aaron Mawhirter, a walk-on freshman linebacker from Sandusky, first in alphabetic order by first name but probably will have difficulty getting into a game.

• A: for “The Big A,” aka as Adolphus Washington. A quarterback-eating (in a manner of speaking) defensive lineman from Cincinnati’s Taft High, he was a big get for coach Urban Meyer in his first recruiting class. Now, Washington is destined to make Adolphus a household name as he starts up front on the rebuilt line.

• B: for Bedford, home of current Buckeye Tyvis Powell and former Mr. Football and ex-Ohio Stater Bam Childress. Childress never really found his niche at Ohio State after a spectacular career at Chanel High. Powell is penciled in as the Buckeyes’ “Star” which is a hybrid position, melding a safety with a linebacker to provide extra coverage in passing situations.

• C: for California, the third opponent on Ohio State’s schedule. The Bears open a new era under first-year coach Sonny Dykes, who comes from Louisiana Tech to replace 11-year coach Jeff Tedford. The Bears were just 3-9 in 2012 but welcome back seven starters on offense, six on defense and three on special teams.

• D: for defense, of course. The Buckeyes have plenty of new names filling out the starting spots since they lost seven first-team players from 2012 (including the entire line) and also will be without cornerback Bradley Roby for the first game because of a suspension.

• E: for Earle, as in Bruce. The 82-year-old was 81-26-1 in nine seasons from 1979-87 as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is a radio analyst in Columbus.

• F: for FAMU, or Florida A&M if you prefer. The Rattlers aren’t in the same class with the Buckeyes — literally. They’re a Football Championship Subdivision member, meaning they don’t play in bowl games but rather can participate in a playoff at the end of the year. FAMU comes to Ohio Stadium for the first time Sept. 21, the Buckeyes’ final tuneup before starting Big Ten play the next week at home against Wisconsin.

• G: for Geelong. That’s the hometown of 21-year-old freshman punter Cameron Johnston, a former Australia Rules Football player down under. He sent a video of his punting prowess to several schools, including Ohio State, and has impressed the coaching staff enough to win the job in camp. One can only imagine what the folks back in Geelong must think of their native son as a Buckeye, named for the spiky nut of a native tree.

• H: for Heisman, and also Jeff Heuerman. The Ohio State tight end was asked during camp what he expected out of improving quarterback Braxton Miller this season. Rather than explain, he stepped back, struck a pose as if he were running and feigned a straight arm — creating a 6-foot-6 representation of the Heisman Trophy. Then he laughed. Miller is considered one of a handful of favorites for the Heisman heading into the season. Although the 2012 winner, Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, wasn’t considered a frontrunner at this time last year. He’s back to try to win another.

• I: for the Is have it. Ohio State plays Illinois and Indiana back to back on Nov. 16 and 23rd.

• J: for J.T., times two. If Meyer shouts: “J.T., come here!” during practice he could get stampeded. The Buckeyes have freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett and junior defensive lineman J.T. Moore.

• K: for Kickoff Luncheon. At the Big Ten’s annual media get-together in late July, the Buckeyes were voted the team to beat not only in their division but in the conference title game (see next item).

• L: for Leaders Division. Ohio State, at 6-7, wasn’t good enough two years ago to play for the fancy-named division title in the Big Ten, then won it in 2012 but was banned from playing in the conference championship. This will be the first time, in the third year of the conference’s divisional setup, the Buckeyes can play in the Big Ten title game, set for Dec. 7 in Indianapolis.

• M: for Millers. There’s two of them on the Buckeyes’ roster. One, of course, is starting quarterback Braxton Miller. There’s also Steve Miller, a junior defensive lineman out of Canton McKinley. No word if some people refer to him, per a song by his namesake, as “the gangster of love.”

• N: is for nine Big Ten games. After years of playing eight conference opponents, the Big Ten shifts to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016.

• O: for Ojikutu. Brandon Ojikutu is a junior receiver from Cleveland John Marshall High.

• P: for former quarterback Terrelle Pryor. He still is in the midst of a 5-year exile from Ohio State, banished by the NCAA during the probe two years ago for allegedly being the guy who handed out money to players who attended a charity event. He is getting a shot to play a lot for the Oakland Raiders this season.

• Q: for the Q in Tyquan Lewis, a freshman defensive lineman out of Tarboro, N.C., who had a solid camp.

• R: for Chris Rock. No, not the popular comedian and actor. This one is a sophomore defensive lineman who prepped at Columbus DeSales High. If this Chris Rock makes a joke, you’d better laugh — he’s 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds.

• S: for John Simon. The co-captain in 2012 has moved on to the NFL and is trying to earn a spot on the roster at linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. His absence leaves a leadership void for the Buckeyes.

• T: for touchdowns. In 2012, running back Carlos Hyde scored 17 of them — most on the team — while topping the team in points with 102. This year, Hyde must sit out the first three games after he was listed as a person of interest in an alleged assault against a female at a downtown Columbus bar in July. Video from the incident appeared to show Hyde making a striking motion at the woman, who also slapped at him. That was enough for Meyer to sit him out the first three games since the team has a strict rule regarding respecting women.

• U: is for Urban. Now associated, at least in Ohio, with the football coach of the same first name, it was a moniker once associated primarily with heads of the Roman Catholic church. Pope Urban I was pope from 222-30. His reign is the first that can definitely be dated. There also was an Urban II, who was in charge from 1088-99. He set up the first Crusade.

• V: for victory. Ohio State has 837 of them in 123 years of football to go along with 316 losses and 53 ties.

• W: for Wisconsin, a team sporting a different look this fall. The Badgers come to Ohio Stadium for the Big Ten opener Sept. 28 and new coach Gary Andersen likely will have a few cards up his sleeve. His predecessor, Bret Bielema, shocked many by leaving Madison, Wis., for the rigors of the Southeastern Conference at Arkansas. Andersen’s Badgers don’t have Montee Ball (graduation) but the three-time defending conference champion does have 14 starters back — eight on offense and six on the other side — along with both kickers, the punter and long snapper.

• X: for the middle letter of Texas. After decades of only getting an occasional player out of the Lone Star State, all of a sudden the Buckeyes are ripe with guys from the heart of Longhorn territory. Running back Dontre Wilson, the freshman flame who was the talk of fall camp, is from DeSoto. Cornerback Eli Apple hails from Houston. The aforementioned quarterback, J.T. Barrett, is a native of Wichita Falls. Mike Mitchell, in the mix at linebacker, is a proud son of Plano.

• Y: for Youngstown, starting center Corey Linsley’s hometown.

• Z: for zero. That’s how many losses the Buckeyes had in 2012 while going 12-0. Ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press media poll this year, many people think they might just put up another zero in the loss column this season.